Please feel free to contact us with any questions or feedback you may have. But first, we ask that you check if your question has already been answered in our FAQs below.

Rebooting

Over a period of time why does my BLB app shut down or features stop working?

What you may be experiencing is an issue of memory allocations in the app. There is a potential for the app to use up its allocated memory over a period of time which then affects the app's ability to function properly. All you need to do is reset the app for it to work properly again. This is not the same as power cycling your device. To reset the BLB app so that is starts up in a fresh new state please see FAQ "How do I reset the BLB app..."

Why does my BLB app quit unexpectedly and then will not reopen?

Sometimes BLB updates can cause problems with preferences. Start by closing the BLB app from multitasking. Very Important: update your device iOS software from Apple to latest available. Update iOS software the next time you sync your device with iTunes on your desktop computer. Reset the BLB app running on your device (see FAQ 'How do I reset the BLB app. Contact us through the app's feedback form or from the web.

How do I find my iPhone/iTouch/iPad crash logs so I can submit them to iTunes for BLB?

We review crash logs from the iTunes Connect service. While there is a separate area listing all the synced crash reports, not all crashes appear there, or are slow to appear. If you have a problem with the BLB app, please make sure your crash logs are sent to us through iTunes. Start iTunes. Right-click on the device in iTunes. Choose "Reset Warnings". Now if a crash occurs choose to send the crash logs the next time you're prompted.

My iPhone/iPad crashes after updating. How do I get the BLB app to work again?

You can resolve your BLB app issues by performing these steps: 1) Update your device iOS software from Apple to latest available. 2) Reset the BLB app running on your device (see FAQ "How do I reset the BLB app..."). 3) Contact us through the app's feedback form or from the web. 4) Submit crash reports through iTunes. 5) Delete the BLB app from your device and iTunes and re-install a new copy from iTunes. 6) Wait for next revision of the app.

When playing audio commentaries, why does my device go to sleep and stop playing?

There is preference option "Allow Auto-Lock Timeout" for that. By default this is ON. The option will prevent the BLB app from going to sleep/timeout when your device times out automatically because of its power saving mode when disabled (i.e. OFF) thus allowing you to continue enjoying the audio commentary. To disable this option; Preferences -> Other Settings. Change Allow Auto-Lock Timeout to OFF.

Why does my BLB app suddenly shut down or stop working?

Devices with iOS 4/5 may experience these issues if they have not reset the app and have many background apps suspended. Since iOS 4/5 utilizes multi-tasking it suspends the BLB when you start another app. Double tapping on the home button reveals ALL currently suspended apps waiting to run again. You could potentially have many apps in a suspended state at any point in time and could be running into memory issues. Reset BLB app or see FAQ 'How do I "reduce" suspended apps?’

Technical

Version 2 running on older 3G iPhone devices?

Some have reported issues with the BLB app revision 2.0 installed on older 3G iPhone's devices running iOS 4.2.1.With the release of revision 2.01 much of these issues are now resolved. If however your device is an 3G iPhone and you continue to have issues after updating to version 2.01 PLEASE CONTACT US. It may be that you will have to perform a hardware reset of your device. To reset your device, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least 10 seconds, until the Apple logo appears.

How do I reset the BLB app running on my device?

If running iOS 4 or 5: Quick double tapping on the home button reveals all currently suspended apps waiting to run again below the dock. Swipe left/right until you locate the BLB icon. To reset the BLB, tap and hold an icon until they wiggle. Tap the red circle next to the BLB. The BLB app has now been removed from running and can now be restarted in a fresh new state.

In version 1.x what is the difference between “local” and “online” searching?

Searching scripture text locally, you are performing a search on your device. The search is based on your currently selected and installed Bible version. Searching scripture text online, you are searching over the Internet. The search is based your current selected online Bible version you've chosen from the Downloadable/Online Bibles available (see the "Manage Bibles" preference)

Why is the app not locking to landscape mode when I set the preference?

The BLB app provides a preference option (Preference -> Other Setting -> Orientation Lock) to lock to a specific orientation so that when you come back to the app it will display in the last orientation you locked it to (i.e. say in landscape). Unfortunately we have discovered an issue with the current revision (2.02) where the orientation lock does not stay saved in the orientation you last locked it to.

The top header/navigation bar has disappeared, how do I get it back?

You may have accidentally entered into the app's full screen mode where the navigation and tool bars are hidden. This is one of the finger gestures (tapping with two fingers in the Bible reading text) that the BLB app supports called "full screen" mode. This toggles between what we call full screen mode when reading the Bible text. When this occurs the navigation and tool bars become hidden. To return to normal mode tap again with two fingers in the Bible reading text.

Please explain “The selected passage does not exist in the current Bible translation.”

This indicates the current translation you are using is referencing a verse which is not found in it. This can occur with the following situations; Using the WLC, LXX translations and are looking up verses in the NT. Using the MGNT, TR, WH translations and are referring to verses in the OT. Your current downloaded Bible translation database is corrupted. To correct this simply go to Manage Bibles, delete this translation and re-download/install it.

Where is the clipboard for the BLB app?

The clipboard is just a place in memory on your device that holds your currently copied text. The BLB app itself has it own note-taking tool (i.e. Notes). Once you have launched the Notes feature of the BLB app you can then paste your clipboard contents (i.e. copied verses) into your own notes. You will find the Notes button right next to the History button on the bottom toolbar and looks like a pencil, writing. Once in the BLB's notes feature, you may type your notes on a chapter or paste in text from your clipboard. To paste a note from the clipboard into the notes just tap and hold until you see the 'paste' option appear.

How do I restore from the iCloud on to a different device?

The backup/restore also permits you to restore your notes, bookmarks, highlights, preferences and daily Bible reading progress to a different device other than the one you backed up from. Thus you can backup one device say an iPhone and then restore to say an iPad device. This is possible when you use the same shared iTunes account on both devices. With your backup files stored on the iCloud your device will have access to them through the BLB app because the same iTunes account was used to both create and manages your iCloud backups. To perform a restore simply refer to the FAQ "How do I restore my notes, bookmarks, highlights, preferences, etc.?"

How do I get rid of the line in the middle of the Bible text?

The line in the middle of the Bible text means that you enabled the parallel Bible reading mode. This view allows you to read two Bible versions at the same time (top/bottom or side by side).To turn it off, tap the Bible navigation button (in the upper left hand corner), then tap the "Version Selector" option, and finally tap the "none" for your parallel Bible (on the right side of the picker view).

Is there a BLB app for Android, Blackberry, Windows or other devices?

We do desire eventually to have a BLB app for other platforms but not immediately as we are working diligently on the BLB app for Apple devices. Please know that it’s not because it’s not important to us because it is but rather because we have very limited resources and are focusing our technical staff on BLB web servers, content and on iPhone apps. In the mean time we do have the Blue Letter Bible mobile site that displays nicely on mobile devices.
Please visit http://m.blb.org

Can I purchase one of the copyright Bibles so I can use it locally?

Not yet. However - the Blue Letter Bible is currently in beta development to allow for in-app purchases of copyrighted Bibles. If you are a Bible publisher and want to help us in making a Bible translation available in the Blue Letter Bible app, please contact us.

New BLB universal app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad – as of revision 1.07

The Blue Letter Bible app (as of revision 1.07) became a universal binary across all Apple devices. Meaning it combined all of the BLB features into a single app for iPhone's, iPod Touch's and iPad's. As a result, BLB HD will no longer be updated. Please switch to the universal app.

Important notice to BLB HD users; New Universal BLB App!

With the release of the new universal BLB app (1.07), BLB HD will no longer be updated. Backup your BLB HD app data using backup/restore. Backup files can be saved off onto a desktop computer which you can later restore from after installing the new universal BLB. For more information on using the backup/restore/share see FAQ's "How do I backup, restore, share.

Before installing the next update protect your BLB data (notes, bookmarks, highlights)

Since 1.04 the BLB provided a backup/restore which permits you to backup all of your app data. Backup files can be saved off onto a desktop computer which you can then later restore from. For more information on using the backup/restore/share see FAQ's "How do I..." backup my notes, bookmarks, highlights, preferences, etc.? -restore my notes, bookmarks, highlights, preferences, etc.? -share my notes, bookmarks, highlights, preferences, etc.?

How do I get a response from BLB Staff when submitting questions or comments?

When submitting your questions or comments through a feedback form on our support site or from within the iPhone/iPad app please triple check your email address and make sure it is correct. If you do not do this before submitting the form, you may not receive a reply if your email address has been entered incorrectly. We simply have no way of contacting you other than your email address you provide us. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Application Questions

What is the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge?

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (or, TSK) is a helpful tool that correlates every passage of Scripture to other passages that relate in one way or another.

Where are the BLB iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad App user manuals online?

For information about how to use the various tools of the Blue Letter Bible iPhone app, please see the official BLB iPhone App manual. For information about how to use the various tools of the Blue Letter Bible iPad app, please see the official BLB iPad App manual.

How do you change the color of the verse numbers?

Having difficulty in being able to read the verse reference numbers based on the default color scheme? There is an option for this which permits you to change the verse reference number color to your desired color. To change the verse reference color, perform these steps; tap the preference option, tap the Color/Highlight setting, tap the 'Reference' option, select the desired color.

What do the iPhone app icons do?

http://www.blueletterbible.org/iPad/manual.cfm

How can I access the audio commentaries and sermons on the iPhone app.

You can now access both text and audio commentaries through the "List Commentaries" option in the verse tools menu. The associated text commentaries will be listed first, followed by the audio commentaries. You can also click the "(See Audio Below)" link at the top of that page to go directly to the audio commentaries listing.

How do I play BLB audio commentaries on my iPad and iPhone?

The iPhone and iPad devices cannot play streamed audio commentaries directly from the Blue Letter Bible web site without a special app to interpret the content. The reason for this has to do with the fact that the device Safari browser would require a special plugin or open an app to play the stream. However if you install the BLB iPhone and iPad apps both are capable of playing streamed audio commentaries through the app using the device native QuickTime player.

How do I stop playing BLB audio commentaries on my iPhone/iPad app?

The BLB app does not provide independent controls for audio commentaries once they start playing. However if you simply double tap on the home button (the round physical button) on your device then this will reveal all of the apps you currently have running/suspended on your device below the dock. Next swipe from left to right along the dock area to reveal the native audio controls built into your device to pause or stop playing the current audio commentary in the background.

How do I change Bible versions?

Tapping the Bibles icon (Bible Navigation) in the upper left hand corner brings up the 'Version Selector' option. Tapping this option shows your current set of Bibles available. The split screen displays a parallel view of Bible versions selected. The Bible selected in the left hand column appears on the top and the Bible selected in the right hand column appears on the bottom of the split view. Select your desired Bible version and tap the 'Go' icon in the upper right hand corner.

How do I manually keep track of my daily Bible reading progress?

The Blue Letter Bible app daily Bible reading features the ability for you to track your reading progress. You can track and check off daily readings you have read as well as jump to a particular day of reading by tapping on the "Date" button in the upper right hand corner of the Daily Bible reading view. From there you will see a radio button which can be tapped to select unselect a particular reading. How to check/uncheck; One you have tapped the date button in the upper right hand corner then tap on the radio button and the option to select/de-select the reading will appear.

How do I copy and paste from commentaries, concordance or a dictionary?

To copy content from a passage reference commentary you would use the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad built-in copy/paste feature native to the iOS software. Follow these steps to copy text; Navigate to the commentaries view from the selected passage. Double tap on the commentaries text. On the second tap hold until the loupe shows up. From there select the region of text on the screen and tap copy. The copied text can now be pasted in to your notes. These same steps work for copying content from the concordance or a dictionary entry.

How do I paste a verse into notepad?

After copying a verse to the clipboard you can now paste that verse into whichever iPhone note-taking application you like. To paste the verse using the BLB app build-in note taking tool follow these steps; Tap the Notes icon on the bottom nav bar (it looks like a pencil, writing), Once in the notepad, you may type your notes on a chapter or paste in text from your clipboard, To paste, tap and hold in the notes window until the Paste option shows.

How do I paste into my notes?

After copying text to the clipboard you can now paste it into whichever iPhone note-taking application you like. Here’s how to paste the clipboard contents using the BLB app build-in note taking tool; Tap the Notes icon on the bottom nav bar (it looks like a pencil, writing), Once in the notepad, you may type your notes on a chapter or paste in text from your clipboard, To paste, tap and hold in the notes window until the Paste option shows.

How do I copy and paste more than one verse?

In order to copy a single verse to the clipboard, simply tap a verse then select "Copy Verse to Clipboard". To copy multiple verses you would use the iPhone/iPod Touch built-in copy/paste feature by double tapping a verse. On the second tap hold until the loupe shows up. From there select the region of text on the screen and tap copy.

How do I highlight a verse?

Highlighting verses on the BLB app are accomplished by first tapping a verse from the Bible reading. After a verse is tapped the "verse tap" menu will appear. From here simply tap one of the available highlight colors in the menu. Upon tapping a highlight color the app will then take you back to your Bible reading with the tapped verse now highlighted. For more information on using the app please see the user manual.

How do I rename one of the color scheme names used for highlighting?

1. Tap on the Preferences option
2. Next tap on "Color / Highlight Settings" preference option
3. Tap on say "Highlight 1" from the list of highlight colors and
4. Then tap on the Name input box.

At this point the keyboard should appear allowing you to rename the highlight to a custom name (i.e. Jesus Words) that fits your preference. The highlighted color name will now be saved so it will no longer be referenced as "Highlight 1" but rather "Jesus Words"

How do I use bookmarks?

Bookmarking is an excellent way to help organize your favorite passages from scripture. To save off a passage simply tap a verse and then select 'Add Chapter to Bookmarks'. Once you've saved or bookmarked the passage you can then manage it the same way Safari does. To manage your bookmarks, tap the 'Favorites' icon (i.e. star) in the lower left hand column. Next tap the edit button from within the bookmarks and then the passage you want to move into one of your bookmark folders.

How can I turn on the Strong’s numbers in the Bible text?

We have not yet introduced this capability into the iPhone and iPad apps. The Strongs numbers/references are available, however, through our verse tap menu: tap a verse and see the "Concordance / Interlinear" tool.

How do I view the Strong’s information?

The Strong's Lexicon is a part of the app however; unlike the Blue Letter Bible website the Strong's numbers/references are available in the app but only after tapping on a verse while connected to the Internet. Meaning you must start by tapping on a verse in the Bible text. From there you will be presented with the app's verse tap menu of available resources. Now tap on the "Concordance / Interlinear" resource and it is from here that you will find the Strong's Lexicon information you are seeking.
* Please note that some of the verse tap menu resources are only available when you have an internet connection.

How can I read the Bible in full-screen mode?

To view your reading in "Full Screen" mode, simply tap the screen with two fingers. This will hide the top and bottom navigation bars, and extend your reading area. To return to the normal reading mode, simply repeat the same action: tap the screen with two fingers.

How do I enlarge the font, can I use pinch gesturing?

Yes you can use pinch gesturing to enlarge the font size - however you must first enable the setting.
The BLB app actually provides a couple of ways to easily enlarge the font size.

Pinch gesturing:

• Tap on the Preferences option
• Gesture Settings
• Enable Pinch (off by default)
• Will automatically adjust using pinch gesture

Font/Text setting:

• Tap on the Preferences option
• Font / Text Settings
• See Font Size and Line Spacing
• Manually change to desired size

Hint: Enlarging the font size of your Bible reading text also enlarges the font size of your notes.

What does the preference option “auto-lock” do?

The "auto lock" preference option tells your device to not sleep/lock when it times-out so that you can continue to read the Bible without disruption. Default condition is "ON" which will allow your device to automatically lock or screen save in so many minutes. Setting this preference option to "OFF" will prevent your device from automatically lock/screen saving based on your device "Auto-Lock" setting. You must restart the app for the setting to take place.

Why can I only bookmark by chapters and not by verses?

The app provides bookmarking by chapters rather than by verses to save space in the scrolling table. This also makes more efficient use of memory for the app to manage. In order to quickly locate a passage, you can use the combination of your bookmarks of chapters and highlighting the verse.

Using version 1.x what is the difference in a “local search” between “exact” and “close?”

Local search results will vary depending on option chosen (exact or close). The "close" option attempts to search for the text provided to determine if it’s within the context of other words. The "exact" search attempts to look for the exact instance of the text you are searching on without any quotation marks (i.e. comma's, semi-colons, periods, quotes). In either case the search operation is performed against your currently selected and installed Bible version.

Translations

Why can’t I download every Bible version available?

Some of the versions/translations of the Bible used by the Blue Letter Bible app are under copyright restrictions, and used by permission of the copyright holder. These versions are not 'public domain' and as such can only be used in accordance with the license agreement with the various Bible publishers.

Why does the concordance/interlinear table only display the KJV and NASB text?

We currently have Strongs data for the KJV and NASB only. Hebrew Strongs data for the Old Testament is identical between these two versions, but the KJV and NASB follow slightly different Greek New Testament text traditions. Since the Textus Receptus is the basis for the KJV, NKJV, RVR, ASV, and RSV the KJV Strongs data is used in the table for these versions. Likewise, since the Nestle-Aland text is the basis for the NASB, NLT, NIV, ESV, DBY, HNV, and others, the NASB data is used in the table.

Why am I getting update notices for Young’s Literal Translation (YNG)?

Recent changes to the Young's Literal Translation abbreviated naming convention on our server may alert the app to update this translation. To correct the issue of continual update notices for to this translation do the following:

1. Go to app Preferences -> Manage Bibles
2. Delete the current Youngs Literal Translation
3. Download a new copy of the Youngs Literal Translation

This has been corrected for the next release of the app.

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